Key Terms:
Sussex Pledge: Promise issued by German officials during WWI not to sink merchant vessels without warning or without assuring the passengers' safety.
National Defense Act: Passed by Congress in 1916, this increased the number of soldiers in the regular army from 90,000 to 175,000 with a goal of 223,000 troops.
Zimmermann Note: Cable sent to the German minister in Mexico by Germany's foreign secretary during WWI that proposed an alliance between the two countries.
Selective Service Act: Passed by Congress in 1917, it required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register with the local draft boards (later changed to men between ages 18-45).
Convoy System: Use of armed vessels to escort unarmed merchant vessels transporting troops, supplies, or volunteers through the North Atlantic durning WWI.
Key People:
Robert Lansing: William Jennings Bryan's successor who encouraged the trade of war materials with the Allies.
Jeannette Rankin: A representative of Montana who opposed the declaration for war.
John J. Pershing: A general who lead the expedition into Mexico that pursued the Pancho Villa, and commanded the first USA troops who reached France in 1917.
Summary:
U.S. Neutrality
*War tended to be viewed by Americans as a strictly European matter, and President Woodrow Wilson wanted the USA to remain neutral.
*While the USA tried not to take any actions, the immigrants sympathized with the Central Powers because that's where they were from.
*More Americans sided with the Allies, because they shared the same language and culture as Britain.
*The British navy blocked Germany and stopped USA ships traveling to neutral countries and searched their cargos, looking for anything that might be going to Germany.
*Germany established to the British Blockade by surrounding Britain, so any ships, even neutral ones, entering this area could be attacked by U-Boats (German Submarines).
*After a couple of British liners were attacked by German U-Boats, which killed many Americans, the citizens of the USA were outraged.
*President Wilson still tried to make agreements with the other countries to halt "unrestricted submarine warfare against civilian ships", and wasn't backed up by many.
The Road to War
*The sinking of a major British passenger liner, the Lusitania brought the conflict in Europe closer to home.
Wilson's Actions Criticized
*After more attacks on liners carrying American passengers, Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties if Germany didn't stop sinking ships, so Germany eventually came up with the Sussex Pledge.
*Most Americans supported the president's decision, but some saw him as a coward.
*Others thought Wilson was no longer remaining neutral, as he was encouraging trade with members of the Allies.
Preparedness and Peace
*President Wilson "launched a military preparedness program" by building up the navy and the army.
*Wilson barely defeated his opponent in the presidental election by promising Americans that he was still neutral.
*After the election, Wilson tried to negotiate a settlement to the war.
Diplomatic Relations Broken
*In February 1917, the Germans began attacking everyone's ships again, and Wilson broke off all diplomatic relations.
*In March 1917, American newspapers published an intercepted cable note that was asking Mexico to team up with Germany.
*President Wilson now saw that the USA couldn't stay out of the war.
Congress Declares War
*Wilson motivated Americans in his speech to "crusade for a better world".
*The Senate declared war on April 4, 1917, and the House followed two days later, but not all representatives wanted war.
Mobilizing U.S. Military Power
*The USA joined the Allies, and what the Allies needed were fresh troops, but few Americans wanted to join the service.
Recruiting An Army
*The Selective Service Act got more people in the Army.
*Supporters of the draft thought that that the draft would bring together soldiers of different nationalities, and when Native Americans had to serve, they were granted USA citizenship.
*African Americans couldn't find much to do, as they were discriminated against and harassed while they were training.
*Pressure from African American organizations convinced the army to let the African Americans do more, but they were still separated from whites.
Training The Troops
*Massive training camps had to be created to house and train soldiers by using simple designs, a huge workforce, and mass production techniques.
*The military also wanted to do something similar in terms of training the troops.
*When the recruits arrived at training camp, they underwent many medical examinations, and spent most of their days learning military rules, drilling, exercising, and preparing for inspections.
*Soldiers also spent much of their time learning how to fight and use weapons.
Over There
*US troops began sailing to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force.
*John J. Pershing was the U.S. Army's most experienced combat officer, as he spent four years with the calvary against Native Americans, and was a military instructor at several places.
*Pershing also fought in the Spanish-American War and served in the Philippines from 1899-1903.
*Although he failed to capture Villa, Pershing was appointed as head of the AEF, and wouldn't let the Allies tell him how to use his troops.
*In July 1917, thousands of U.S. soldiers marched through Paris, and were repaying France for their help in the Revolutionary War.
*The troops arrived in France in huge amounts as the weeks passed, and army engineers built many things, including docks, railroads, hospitals, storage sheds, and telephone and telegraph lines.
*Many American Women worked in army hospitals, and volunteers for Red Cross, YMCA, and other agencies.
*Merchant vessels were escorted by warships, and no on died as the result of an enemy attack.
2/1/12
USHCP
Mr. Masterson
Key Terms:
Sussex Pledge: Promise issued by German officials during WWI not to sink merchant vessels without warning or without assuring the passengers' safety.
National Defense Act: Passed by Congress in 1916, this increased the number of soldiers in the regular army from 90,000 to 175,000 with a goal of 223,000 troops.
Zimmermann Note: Cable sent to the German minister in Mexico by Germany's foreign secretary during WWI that proposed an alliance between the two countries.
Selective Service Act: Passed by Congress in 1917, it required men between the ages of 21 and 30 to register with the local draft boards (later changed to men between ages 18-45).
Convoy System: Use of armed vessels to escort unarmed merchant vessels transporting troops, supplies, or volunteers through the North Atlantic durning WWI.
Key People:
Robert Lansing: William Jennings Bryan's successor who encouraged the trade of war materials with the Allies.
Jeannette Rankin: A representative of Montana who opposed the declaration for war.
John J. Pershing: A general who lead the expedition into Mexico that pursued the Pancho Villa, and commanded the first USA troops who reached France in 1917.
Summary:
U.S. Neutrality
*War tended to be viewed by Americans as a strictly European matter, and President Woodrow Wilson wanted the USA to remain neutral.
*While the USA tried not to take any actions, the immigrants sympathized with the Central Powers because that's where they were from.
*More Americans sided with the Allies, because they shared the same language and culture as Britain.
*The British navy blocked Germany and stopped USA ships traveling to neutral countries and searched their cargos, looking for anything that might be going to Germany.
*Germany established to the British Blockade by surrounding Britain, so any ships, even neutral ones, entering this area could be attacked by U-Boats (German Submarines).
*After a couple of British liners were attacked by German U-Boats, which killed many Americans, the citizens of the USA were outraged.
*President Wilson still tried to make agreements with the other countries to halt "unrestricted submarine warfare against civilian ships", and wasn't backed up by many.
The Road to War
*The sinking of a major British passenger liner, the Lusitania brought the conflict in Europe closer to home.
Wilson's Actions Criticized
*After more attacks on liners carrying American passengers, Wilson threatened to cut diplomatic ties if Germany didn't stop sinking ships, so Germany eventually came up with the Sussex Pledge.
*Most Americans supported the president's decision, but some saw him as a coward.
*Others thought Wilson was no longer remaining neutral, as he was encouraging trade with members of the Allies.
Preparedness and Peace
*President Wilson "launched a military preparedness program" by building up the navy and the army.
*Wilson barely defeated his opponent in the presidental election by promising Americans that he was still neutral.
*After the election, Wilson tried to negotiate a settlement to the war.
Diplomatic Relations Broken
*In February 1917, the Germans began attacking everyone's ships again, and Wilson broke off all diplomatic relations.
*In March 1917, American newspapers published an intercepted cable note that was asking Mexico to team up with Germany.
*President Wilson now saw that the USA couldn't stay out of the war.
Congress Declares War
*Wilson motivated Americans in his speech to "crusade for a better world".
*The Senate declared war on April 4, 1917, and the House followed two days later, but not all representatives wanted war.
Mobilizing U.S. Military Power
*The USA joined the Allies, and what the Allies needed were fresh troops, but few Americans wanted to join the service.
Recruiting An Army
*The Selective Service Act got more people in the Army.
*Supporters of the draft thought that that the draft would bring together soldiers of different nationalities, and when Native Americans had to serve, they were granted USA citizenship.
*African Americans couldn't find much to do, as they were discriminated against and harassed while they were training.
*Pressure from African American organizations convinced the army to let the African Americans do more, but they were still separated from whites.
Training The Troops
*Massive training camps had to be created to house and train soldiers by using simple designs, a huge workforce, and mass production techniques.
*The military also wanted to do something similar in terms of training the troops.
*When the recruits arrived at training camp, they underwent many medical examinations, and spent most of their days learning military rules, drilling, exercising, and preparing for inspections.
*Soldiers also spent much of their time learning how to fight and use weapons.
Over There
*US troops began sailing to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force.
*John J. Pershing was the U.S. Army's most experienced combat officer, as he spent four years with the calvary against Native Americans, and was a military instructor at several places.
*Pershing also fought in the Spanish-American War and served in the Philippines from 1899-1903.
*Although he failed to capture Villa, Pershing was appointed as head of the AEF, and wouldn't let the Allies tell him how to use his troops.
*In July 1917, thousands of U.S. soldiers marched through Paris, and were repaying France for their help in the Revolutionary War.
*The troops arrived in France in huge amounts as the weeks passed, and army engineers built many things, including docks, railroads, hospitals, storage sheds, and telephone and telegraph lines.
*Many American Women worked in army hospitals, and volunteers for Red Cross, YMCA, and other agencies.
*Merchant vessels were escorted by warships, and no on died as the result of an enemy attack.